flexwatt problem

i just sodder 5pcs of flexwatt all together for my rack and 3 out of 5 are heating up. what could be the deal?

Did you scrape the plastic coating off the spot where you soldered?

yea i would check your connections with a volt meter and make sure they are getting current.

ya i scraped them. ill have to check but the weird thing is that all connected together and there to closes to the outlet.

what? i don't understand.

there all wired together using one 6ft ex.cord and its the two closes to the power sourse. and the other three and getting power.

is current passing through those 2 pieces flexwatt?

did you double check the solder?

ya the power sourse is passing though the two that are not working but that might be the problem that i am just junk at soddering. ill have to check in the am

Quote:

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Originally Posted by pinkham64

there all wired together using one 6ft ex.cord and its the two closes to the power sourse. and the other three and getting power.

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I assume this means you are trying to wire them in parallel?

If so it is possible to have the connecting wires touching (allowing current to flow) but still not have a solid connection to the Flexwatt. This would account for what you describe is occuring.

I would guess either too much solder so you aren't getting a solid connection or just a bad connection - so you need to resolder the ones that aren't working (you can also get a volt meter to prove you have a bad solder but it will still mean resoldering the 2 that aren't working)

btw there are no critter in the rack yet. i am pickin up the one that will be living there on the 26th at the portland show.

I would redo the soldering job. You can get it off easily by touching where it is currently soldered with your soldering gun, and then pulling away *gently* while the solder is still hot.

Wipe away whatever of the solder you can with a wet sponge, wipe the wires dry and then try again. :)

Oh yeah... And do that while it's not plugged in as well... We don't need any electricution possibilities :)

and make sure to melt or cut away all the plastic covering the metal on teh flexwatt...

Is it all the same size? Because what ive noticed is if you get the 11 inch and the 3inch fw it doesnt heat up the same. Diff. wattages.

POST SOME PICS! That would be the best bet so we can have a visual to help you better.

i fixed it. i had a bad soddering job on the ones that didnt work. but thanks for everyone info and trouble shooting

great to hear...